I've been posting things online since 1982, when I got my first University computer account.  A long time.  And from the first, I've used my name (sometimes slightly abridged).  I felt like, if what I was saying wasn't worth putting my real name on, I should probably refrain from posting it.

Since then, I've recognized times and situations where a bit of anonymity is called for.   If I were The Squirrel, I would be pretty wary of alienting some of my customers, even if such   Could tequilaanddonuts be so marvelously absurdist without the cloak of anonymity?  I admit it:  psuedonyms have their place.

But not me.  I'm right out there.   If you looked up my name in the Austin phone book, you'd find me.  If you google'd me, you find some of the documents I've published professionally.  I am me.  And this, um, out-thereness has served me in a number of ways, the best of which is that it's kept me from publishing rants that could be hurtful, either to me (by, say, torpedoing my job prospects with someone) or others, if inadvertently.

The down side of this is that I can't write about stuff that is absolutely consuming me at times.  Maybe trouble with the kids, or a friend, or my job.  And that can be hard sometimes.  Like now, during this sucky, sucky econ0mic time when I'm spending most of my time away from home, lonely as hell.

So I don't know where other people come down on the whole anonymity issue, but that's where it is for me.  Not that y'all asked.